A question Iโm regularly asked by parents is, โhow do I get my kids to brush their teeth?โ
Itโs a common dilemma in most households with young kids.
In the morning chaos before kindy and school, and then again before bedtime, parents everywhere are stressed out by what should be just a simple exercise.
Kids are human. And theyโre like us.
If something is fun, theyโre all in.
When it seems more like hard work, well, theyโll make it hard, hoping youโll give in.
As a dad and dentist – I have four beautiful children and one more on the way – I feel Iโm ideally positioned to provide practical tips on how to navigate this challenge.
More than just a skill, teaching kids how to brush teeth is an important lesson for life.
Let me share with you how I get around this universal issue.
You might be surprised to find, itโs simpler than you think.
#1 Set A Good Example When Brushing Kidsโ Teeth
How many of us have tried the line, โDo as I say, not as I doโ?
The problem with this approach is, it doesnโt work.
If you want your kids to love brushing their teeth, you need to do it too.
Long before they even start to make the connection they have teeth and those teeth need to be cleaned, your child must see you brushing your teeth too.
Itโs a case of โmonkey see, monkey doโ. Brushing and flossing, morning and night.
Looking after teeth by brushing and flossing regularly, and doing it with enthusiasm in front of them, is the very best way to get buy-in from your child when itโs their turn.
Theyโll see you do it, and without saying very much at all, theyโll come to accept thatโs how teeth get looked after.
While your kids will benefit, you will too; in more ways than one.
Yes, youโll still need to teach technique and guide them, but there wonโt be the resistance that makes the whole experience stressful for you and the kids.
#2 Use FOMO (fear of missing out)
When itโs time for your child to brush their own teeth, another technique to use is FOMO – fear of missing out.
Nobody likes to feel like theyโre missing out, especially kids and especially if itโs fun.
The trick is to make like theyโre not quite ready to brush their teeth, but let them have a go anyway – only after theโve asked.
In doing so, you create the sense brushing teeth is a privilege to be earned; a kind of exclusive thing for important people.
Of course, as teeth come through they should be cleaned, but you could also make the responsibility of kids brushing teeth associated with a certain age or specific positive behaviours.
You can always back this up with a teeth brushing chart.
Kids will enjoy marking off the days they brush their teeth, especially if thereโs a reward at the end.
It only takes three weeks for a habit to form, so do this for a month, and youโll have a happy brusher on your hands.
#3 Make Brushing Kids Teeth Fun
I know, itโs hard to think rainbows and unicorns when a four year old is having a meltdown five minutes before bedtime.
However, like most things with kids, if an activity is fun, thereโs a much better chance youโll win them over.
I mentioned earlier, kids are human. They wonโt respond well when forced into brushing their teeth.
So looking for fun in this daily activity is vital.
To make things fun, I found a few things work really well.
Find something they love
Take something theyโre keenly interested in and integrate it into brushing time.
My kids love animals, so we imitate the โgrowling dogโ and brush the back teeth. Then we do the โcrocodile smileโ and brush the front teeth.
Maybe your kids love superheroes or ponies or monster trucks. It really doesnโt matter, get creative and your kids will love it and brushing their teeth too.
Talk about the Tooth Fairy
Before kids get older and wiser, use the Tooth Fairy to show kids how important good teeth are.
I tell my children, Iโm good friends with the Tooth Fairy and they can be too, if they look after their teeth.
After all, the Tooth Fairy doesnโt just take any teeth; she takes the best teeth. The incentive of a gold coin will help too!
The Tooth Fairy at our house has even been known to sprinkle fairy dust on bedside tables as an added incentive to encourage our kids to keep up the good work in between visits.
Although thereโs no foolproof way that will guarantee your child will learn to love brushing immediately, itโs important to be persistent.
You can also call in the support of your dentist or hygienist to help. Sometimes the power of an independent third party can help sell the story.
Just make sure you let us know, so we can partner with you on this.
Kids know exactly what to do if they want to get out of something like brushing their teeth and itโs our job as parents and carers to be wise to it.
Having someone take the time to teach this important life skill really is a privilege and itโs also a gift for life.
Stick with it, because it will be worth it.
Owned by Dr Les Jabbour, Define Dental is located in Benowa. As the Gold Coastโs premier dental practice thatโs been providing quality dental care to local residents longer than any other, Define Dental has decades of experience of providing exceptional dental care for kids. Why not book an appointment with one of dentists and start your child on their dental health journey.